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Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking in the District of Utah

From justice.gov · November 9, 2026 · 2 min read
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Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking in the District of Utah
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A previously removed illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to two years' imprisonment for drug trafficking crimes after law enforcement recovered approximately 11,000 individual fentanyl pills in the District of Utah.

Press Release

Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Prison for Drug Trafficking in the District of Utah

Monday, November 9, 2026

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A previously removed illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today to two years' imprisonment for drug trafficking crimes after law enforcement recovered approximately 11,000 individual fentanyl pills in the District of Utah.

The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge David Sam, comes after Brajhan Luna-Vazquez, 24, of Mexico, residing illegally in Millcreek, Utah, pleaded guilty on August 31, 2026, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Luna-Vazquez was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Upon release from custody, Luna-Vazquez will be remanded to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings.

According to court documents and statements made at Luna-Vazquez’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on March 18, 2026, while executing a search warrant on his residence and vehicle, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,111 grams of fentanyl pills. See prior release: Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted for Drug and Immigration Crimes in the District of Utah.

The case was investigated by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force (UCMC). Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Pete Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Contact

Felicia Martinez

Public Affairs Specialist

Felicia.martinez@usdoj.gov

Updated November 9, 2026

Topic

Operation Take Back America

Component

USAO - Utah

Press Release Number: 26-118

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